Apparatus for assembling confection-serving containers of the push up type

ABSTRACT

A machine for assembling a push-up type serving container consisting of three parts, namely, a tubular container body or cylinder for a confection or other edible substance, a piston for pushing the confection upwardly to expose it at the upper open end of the cylinder, and a separate actuating rod which fits into a downwardly opening socket at the lower side of the piston and extends downwardly through the lower end of the cylinder. The container parts are assembled in successively presented receiving chambers which have open mouths, by automatically feeding the parts in sequence into axial alignment with the mouths and then moving them axially into said chambers where they will be in proper assembled relationship. Then the finally assembled containers are automatically and successively withdrawn from the open mouths of the chambers.

United States Patent Von Bredow APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CONNECTION-SERVING CONTAINERS OF THE PUSH UP TYPE Inventor: Hans D. Von Bredow, 3272 Rome Comers Rd., Galena, Ohio 43201 Filed: Dec. 20, 1972 Appl. No.: 316,680

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 196,156, Nov. 5, 1971, Pat. No. 3,740,821.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1950 Meyer 29/203 HM ll/l959 Carlson et al. 29/203 HM Primary ExaminerThomas l-l. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mahoney, Miller & Stebens ABSTRACT A machine for assembling a push-up type serving container consisting of three parts, namely, a tubular container body or cylinder for a confection or other edible substance, a piston for pushing the confection upwardly to expose it at the upper open end of the cylinder, and a separate actuating rod which fits into a downwardly opening socket at the lower side of the piston and extends downwardly through the lower end of the cylinder. The container parts are assembled in successively presented receiving chambers which have open mouths, by automatically feeding the parts in sequence into axial alignment with the mouths and then moving them axially into said chambers where they will be in proper assembled relationship. Then the finally assembled containers are automatically and successively withdrawn from the open mouths of the chambers.

18 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures ATENTEUAPR 30 974 SHEET 01 [1F 15 Hill SHEET [32 0F 15 PATENTEDAPR 30 1974 SHEET 03 0F 15 uomn 5 m2 2 E SHEET 05 [1F 15 2ATENTEDAPR 30 1974 sum 08 0F 15 PATENTEUAPR 30 mm PATENTEDAPRIBU I974 3; 07"

SHEET 09 [1F 15 PATENTEDAPR 30 1974 sum 13 0F 15 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CONFECTION-SERVING CONTAINERS OF THE PUSH UP TYPE This is a division of Ser. No. 196,156, filed Nov. 5, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,821, dated June 26, 1973.

In the last several years, an individual serving container knows as a push-up container has become popular in providing individual servings of frozen confections and other edible substances. These containers have taken various forms, but one that has become quite popular recently consists of an annular tubular body or cylinder with open upper and lower ends which is designed to receive the confection, a piston which fits below the confection in the cylinder and is slidable upwardly to push the confection to gradually completely expose it at the upper end of the cylinder, and an actuating stick or rod which has its upper end fitting in a downwardly opening socket in the piston and extends from the lower end of the cylinder. These three members are manufactured separately and must be assembled into the complete package before receiving the confection or other product to be sold and served. It has been customary to do this assembling by hand which requires considerable time and labor thereby resulting in a more costly package. Furthermore, handling by personnel is undesirable for sanitary reasons.

The present invention provides an automatic apparatus for assembling the three parts of a push-up container of the type indicated thereby resulting in a less costly package. The machine is completely automatic in feeding the parts successively into an assembling chamber, properly orienting the parts relatively in that chamber, and removing the properly assembled container from that chamber. Therefore, the parts are not contacted by the hands of the operator and sanitation is ensured. Safety means are provided on the machine for stopping its operations if there is any jamming of parts in the chamber during assembly or if all parts of the assembled container are not removed from the chamber after assembly.

The best mode contemplated in carrying out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic axial sectional view showing the three parts to be assembled into the push-up container.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating schematically apparatus used in producing the push-up container assembly.

FIG. 2a is an axial sectional view through a tube used in producing the tubular portion of the container assembly and indicating schematically how a pair of annular piston stop ribs is formed at a predetermined axial position on the interior thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly cut away, of a push-up container assembling machine for assembling the three parts of the container assembly according to this invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partly cut away, of the assembling machine, taken from the position indicated at line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing the various units for feeding the three parts into the successive receiving chambers of the indexing table and for removing the container assemblies successively therefrom.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly cut away, of the indexing table assembly.

FIG. 7 is a view of a portion of the indexing table looking into the container parts receiving and assembling chambers thereof and taken from the position indicated at line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the various units shown in FIG. 5 and illustrating schematically the position of the indexing table relative thereto and its direction of rotation.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 and showing the stick-feeding unit.

FIG. 9a is an enlarged axial sectional view through one of the parts-receiving and assembling chambers of the indexing table and showing in section the associated lower end of the stick-feeding unit.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9a.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 8 and showing the piston-feeding unit.

FIG. 11a is an enlarged axial sectional view showing the indexing table chamber which has previously received a stick, loaded with a piston from the pistonfeeding unit, the lower end of which is shown in axial section in cooperation therewith.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the piston-feeding unit taken from the position indicated at 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11a.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 8 and showing the tube-feeding unit.

FIG. 14a is an axial sectional view taken through the indexing table chamber in which a stick and piston were previusly assembled, with a tube from the tubefeeding unit inserted therein, the lower end of such unit being shown in axial section in cooperation therewith.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14a.

FIG. 16 is an axial sectional view, partly cut away, of the final container assembly.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged transverse section taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged sectional view taken-along line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 8 and showing the container assembly removal tong unit.

FIG. 20 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 19 and illustrating schematically the action of the removal unit.

FIG. 21 is a similar horizontal setional view of the removal unit showing the container assembly gripped thereby and removed from the indexing table chamber.

FIG. 22 is an end elevational view taken from the position indicated at line 22-22 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is an axial sectional view through one of the cylinder and piston-type actuating rods, with the rod shown in extended condition.

FIG. 24 is a similar view, but showing the rod in collapsed condition.

FIG. 25 is a schematic illustration of the air system of the machine.

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the container parts to be assembled are indicated as consisting of a stick 31, a piston 32 and a tube 33. The stick 31 which may be of any suitable material, usually a plastic, is of considerable length and of solid annular or tubular cross-section. The piston 32 is also usually of plastic and is of annular cup-like form with an annular flared flexible skirt 34 and a concentric ribbed socket 35 for receiving one end of the stick 31, which will have a tight fit therewith when forced axially therein. The tube 33 may be of any suitable material, such as paper or plastic, being of annular hollow cross-section and open at both ends. The tube is of such a diameter that the piston 32 will tightly fit in sealing relationship therein but can be moved axially thereof under suitable force.

The three parts are manufactured separately for subsequent assembling into the container. Various manufacturing methods can be used. A particular form of tube 33 is illustrated which is provided with a pair of axially spaced annular stop ribs 36 on the interior thereof adjacent one of the open ends thereof. This arrangement provides additional problems in assembling the three parts, but it is to be understood that this invention is not necessarily limited to this type of tube. As indicated, the tube may be produced in various ways, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, where a long tube section 33a is severed into suitable lengths, while it is supported on a mandrel 37, by a unit 38 and simultaneously the ribs 36 are rolled therein by a roller unit 39. The enlarged schematic view of FIG. 2a illustrates this action more clearly.

The machine for assembling the three parts of the container is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 at 40. The sticks 31 will be supplied by a stick-feeding unit 41 on the machine 40, the pistons 32 will be supplied by a piston-feeding unit 42 on the machine, and the tubes 33 will be supplied by a tube-feeding unit 43 on the machine. The units 41, 42 and 43 of the machine 40 are indicated schematically in FIG. 2. The tubes 33 will be supplied to the tube-feeding unit 43 on the machine by a suitable conveyor 43a. The assembling machine 40 is illustrated in. detail in most of the remaining figures of the drawings.

With reference mainly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that the assembling machine 40 consists mainly of the units 41 42 and 43, previously mentioned, which are associated with an indexing table 45, that has a container assembly removal unit 44 also associated therewith. For actuating these various units 41, 42, 43 and 44 in timed relationship to the movement of the indexing table 45, a cam-controlled actuating unit 50 is provided on the machine.

The machine is shown supported by a longitudinally extending base member46 which has upstanding transverse frame sections 47, 48, 49 and 51 disposed therealong at intervals. The particular forms of the base 46 and the upstanding frame sections, are not important, but will be of such a nature as to adequately support the various units and associated parts of the machine.

The indexing table 45 is of disc-like form and is supported for rotation in a transverse plane above the base 46, toward one end thereof which would be the left end in FIG. 3. It is carried concentrically on a bearing and shaft 52 which projects to the right from an indexing drive gear unit 53. This unit 53 may be of any suitable type which will serve to advance and index the table 45 step-by-step in the proper direction which is indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8. The index unit 53 is connected to the table 45 by a standard overload clutch 53a shown best in FIG. 6. The intermittent drive unit 53 is supported by a shelf 54 carried by the upstanding supports 47, 48 and may be suitably driven, as by a sprocket and chain drive 55 which extends down to the base 46 of the machine where it is driven by a speedreducer gear unit 56 supported thereby. The unit 56 is driven by an electric motor 57 disposed on the base 46, inwardly of it, through the medium of a speed adjustment belt and sheave drive 58. The adjustment is accomplished by hand-wheel arrangement 59 which moves the motor 57 towards and from the speedreducer 56, the motor base 57a being suitably mounted on the base 46 for adjustment by slot guides 57b and cooperating clamp bolts.

The indexing table 45 has a series of cylindrical chambers or pockets 60 disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals about its periphery. Each of these chambers will successively receive the container parts 31, 32 and 33 in that order for assembly. These cylinders or pockets project outwardly from the table toward the right. The form of each chamber and the manner in which it is mounted on the table is illustrated best in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9a.

It will be noted that the table comprises the disc 45a with an opening 58 for receiving each cylindrical member 60 which is of hollow annular tubular cross-section and has a stop flange 61 at its inner end which engages the adjacent surface of the disc 45a and is held thereagainst by a bolt 62. The outer projecting end of the tubular member is open and is provided with an outwardly flared guide mouth extremity 63. Also, the outer end of the tubular member is provided with a pair of outwardly opening diametrically opposed extractor jaw-receiving slots 64. Within the tubular member 60 and concentrically fitted therein, is what may be termed a mandrel 65 on which the container parts are to be assembled.

This mandrel 65 is shown in FIGS. 9a, 11a, and 14a is of substantially solid cylindrical form and is fitted tightly within the tubular member 60 having a stop flange 65a on its inner end that is clamped against the flange 61 by the bolt 62. The mandrel 65 has a bore extending centrally completely there-through. This bore is divided into an outer stick-receiving socket portion 66 and a passageway 67 at its inner end communicating therewith through a smaller passage 68. The outer end of the socket 66 is provided with an enlarged annular portion 69 joining with an outwardly-flared guide throat 70. The outer end of the mandrel itself is reduced to provide a skirt-receiving outwardly-opening annular groove 71 between it and the tubular wall of member 60. It will be noted that an annular shoulder 72 is at the inner end of groove 71 and an annular shoulder 73 is at the inner end of the socket 66. The extremity 74 of the mandrel 65 is flat and is provided with a rounded annular edge 75. It will be noted that the flat end 74 is spaced axially inwardly of the line 76 where the flared mouth 63 terminates. Inwardly of the annular shoulder 72 and aligning with jaw-receiving slots 64 are jaw-receiving slots 64a formed in the mandrel 65.

The units 41, 42 and 43, previously mentioned, are provided in cooperation with the indexing table 45 to feed the container parts 31, 32 and 33, in that order, into successive chambers 60 where the parts are properly oriented and assembled. The removal or containerextracting unit 44, for removing the assembled containers from successive chambers 60, is also provided as previously indicated. These units are supported between the frame section 49 and the indexing table 45, as indicated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Their disposition circumferentially relative to the table 45 is indicated in FIG. 8.

The unit 41 is suspended from top plate or shelf 77 (FIG. 3) on the upper side of the frame section 49. It includes the upstanding stick magazine 81 which will contain a stack of the sticks 31 suitably supplied thereto as from a hopper 79 (FIG. 5) which is supported on the shelf 77 and may be equipped with feeding means driven by power means 78. The lowermost stick rests in a cradle chamber 82 (FIG. formed in the bracket 80 which protects from the frame section 49 toward the indexing table 45. Projecting from the outlet end of this cradle chamber in a tubular guide sleeve 83 (FIG. 9a) which will align axially with the chambers 60 as they are successively indexed with the table 45. To permit this alignment, as each chamber 60 moves into stick-receiving position, the sleeve 83 will pass laterally through the leading slot 64 of the chamber wall. A similar guide bushing 84 is provided at the other end of the chamber 82 in a bore in bracket 80, for guiding a slidable stick push-rod 85 for successively eject-sticks 31 from the cradle chamber 82 as they drop thereinto.

The rod 85 extends through an opening 93 in the frame section 49 (FIG. 9) and its outer end is anchored in a tubular member 86 which slidably telescopes over a tubular support 87 that is rigidly mounted on the frame section 51 and projects outwardly to the left therefrom. A collar 88 is welded in position around the end of member 86 and has a guide roller 89 disposed in a guide track 90 supported between the frame sections 49 and 51. At a diametrically opposed point, a pivot connection 91 is provided for connecting the member 86 to an actuating rod 92 which will be referred to later. Reciprocation of rod 92 will produce reciprocation of the stick-feed push rod 85.

When the rod 85 is moved to the left (FIG. 9a), the lowermost stick 31 is pushed through the guide sleeve 83 into the aligning socket 66. The flared throat 70 will guide the stick into the socket and it will stop only when its inner end reaches the shoulder 73 at the inner end of the socket. At this time, the outer end of the stick will extend beyond the annular socket portion 69 into the flared throat 70. As the chamber 60 is advanced, the tubular guide 83 will pass laterally through the trailing slot 64 thereof. When the rod 85 is withdrawn to the position shown in this Figure, the next stick 31 will drop into the cradle chamber 82 into position to be subsequently pushed therefrom.

The particular chamber 60 with the stick 31 therein as indicated, will next be indexed, by rotation of the table 45, into cooperation with the piston feeding unit 42 which is indicated best in FIGS. 1 1, 1 1a and 13. This unit includes a tubular guide sleeve 95 which is carried by the frame section 49 and projects to the left toward the table 45. Its outer end will be so disposed that the chambers 60 will be indexed successively into axial alignment therewith at which time the outer extremities of these members will be closely adjacent, as indicated in these Figures. This guide sleeve is angularly spaced from the sleeve guide 83 of the stick-feeding unit 41, in the direction of advancing rotation of the table 45 as will be apparent from FIGS. 5 and 8. Pistons 32 are adapted to be fed into the outer end of the guide sleeve 95 through a transverse slot 96, greater than a semi-circle, formed in the top thereof adjacent the outer extremity thereof. These pistons are fed successively from the lower end of a magazine which will support a stack of those pistons on edge with their skirts 34 directed to the left toward the table 45. The magazine is formed by a plurality of vertical rods 97 arranged in two pairs, one of which terminates above the sleeve 95 (FIG. 13) and the other of which straddles the member 95 at each side of the slot 96, as indicated at 97a, to prevent lateral displacement of the piston from that slot. The magazine may receive the pistons 32 from a suitable supplying and orienting device, but not shown. The lowermost piston 32 will drop through the slot 96 and rest on the wall of the sleeve 95 ready to be pushed outwardly through the open mouth 95a thereof and into the cooperating chamber 60.

The pushing of the piston 32 from the sleeve 95 is accomplished by means of a cylindrical pusher member 100 which is slidably mounted in the annular tubular sleeve 95. This member has a tapered forward end 101 with a flat outer piston-engaging face 102 provided with a transverse slot 103 to prevent sticking to the piston 32. The sleeve 95 is provided with an attaching flage 104 which is bolted to the frame section 49 (FIG. 11) around the pilot opening 105 through which the rear end of the pusher member 100 projects. The rear portion of the member 100 is tubular and telescopes slidably over a mounting tubular support 106 that is fixed to the frame section 51 and projects outwardly therefrom to the left. A collar 107 is welded in position around the outer end of member 100 and has a guide roller 108 disposed in a guide track 109 supported between the frame sections 49 and 51. At a diametrically opposed point, a pivot connection 110 is provided for connecting the member 100 to an actuating rod 111 which will be referred to later. Reciprocation of rod 11 1 will produce reciprocation of the piston push member 100.

When the piston 32 is pushed into the chamber 60, it is guided therein by the flared mouth 63. The skirt 34 of the piston will be guided over the reduced end of the mandrel 65 into the outwardly opening annular groove 71 and will move therein until the flat wall of the piston contacts the flat end 74 of the mandrel but the inner edge of the skirt never engages the shoulder 72. At the same time, the socket member 35 will be advanced over the projecting end of the stick 31, its leading end being guided by the flared throat 70 into the associated exposed end of the stick, the enlargement 69 of the stick socket 65 permitting this advance. The socket will have a tight fit with the stick and will normally be frictionally held thereon. When the piston is finally in position on the end of the stick as shown in FIG. 11a, the piston will be axially inwardly of the line 76 a substantial distance. It will be noted that skirt 34 will embrace the reduced outer end of the mandrel 65 so that it will be within the outer circumference of the main part of the mandrel sufficient to produce clearance for the tube 33 to subsequently slip over the skirt. The inner end of the socket 35 also will not engage with the mandrel, so that engagement of the flat outer wall of the piston with the mandrel end 74 is permitted.

The particular chamber 60 with the assembled stick 31 and piston 32 therein as indicated in FIG. 11a, will next be indexed by rotation of the table 45 into cooperation with the tube-feeding unit 43 which is indicated best in FIGS. 14, 14a and 15. This unit includes a tubular guide sleeve 115 which has an attaching flange 116 (FIG. 14) that is bolted to the frame section 49 around the pilot opening 117 and projects to the left around the table 45. The outer end of the sleeve 115 will be so disposed that the chamber 60 will be indexed successively into axial alignment therewith, at which time the outer extremities of these members will be closely adjacent. This guide sleeve 1 15 is angularly spaced from the guide sleeve 95 of the piston-feeding unit 42, in the direction of advancing rotation of the table 45, as will be apparent from FIGS. and 8. Tubes 33 are adapted to be fed successively into the outer end of the guide sleeve 115 through a transverse slot 116, greater than a semi-circle, formed in the top thereof adjacent the outer extremity thereof. These tubes are fed successively from the lower end of a magazine, which will support a stack of these tubes with one open end directed to the left toward the table 45. This end will be the one adjacent which the annular stop ribs 36 are formed. The magazine is formed by a plurality of vertical rods 117 arranged in two pairs, one of which terminates above the sleeve 115, (FIG. and the other of which straddles the member 115 at each side of the slot 116, as indicated at 117a, to prevent lateral displacement of a tube from that slot. The magazine will receive the tubes from the conveyor 43a previously mentioned. The lowermost tube 33 will drop through the slot 116 and rest on the wall of the guide sleeve 1 15 ready to be pushed outwardly from the open mouth 119 into the cooperating chamber 60, it being noted that the spacing between members 1 15 and 60 is less than the length of a tube 33. Also, it will be noted that the sleeve 115 has an internal diameter slightly greater than the tube 33 which it receives.

The pushing of the tube 33 from the sleeve 115 is accomplished by means of a cylindrical pusher member 120 (FIGS. 14 and 14a) which is slidably mounted in the annular tubular sleeve 115 and extends outwardly through the opening 119. This member 120 has a downwardly tapered or chamfered surface 121 at its upper leading edge to prevent crushing of the tube next above in the magazine. The rear portion of the member 120 is tubular and telescopes slidably over a mounting tubular support 122 that is fixed to the frame section 51 and projects outwardly therefrom to the left. Acollar A collar is welded in position around the rear end of member 120 and has a guide roller 123a disposed in a guide track 124 supported between the frame sections 49 and 51. At a diametrically opposed point, a pivot connection 126 is provided for connecting the member 120 to an actuating rod 125 which will be referred to later. Reciprocation of the rod 125 will produce reciprocation of the tube push member 120.

Advancing of the member 120 in the guide sleeve 115, pushes the lowermost tube 33 therefrom and into the axially aligning chamber 60. The tapered surface 121 will prevent engagement with the tube above in the magazine. The forward open end of the tube will be projected into the flared mouth 63 of the chamber 60 which will guide it and center it in that chamber. The

leading open end of the tube will be moved beyond the line 76 and centered relative to the piston 32 already in the chamber 60. Obviously, tube 33 is slightly greater in diameter than the piston 32 and is of greater axial extent than the spacing of mouth 63 and the adjacent end of the wide sleeve 115. The tube end will be forced over the mandrel-supported piston skirt into the annular groove 71, around the skirt, and will be moved axially therein until the leading edge of the skirt contacts the inner end 72 of the groove. At this time, the leading stop rib 36 will snap ahead of the piston skirt edge and the trailing rib will be located just behind the piston, as shown in FIG. 14a. This locks the piston 32 in a definite axial position within the tube 33.

The particular chamber 60 with the final container assembly therein, as indicated in FIG. 14a, will next be indexed, by rotation of the table 45, into cooperation with the container removal or extracting unit 44 which is indicated best in FIGS. 19 and 22. This unit is of the pivoted tong type and includes a pair of extracting jaw members which are of bellcrank form and are pivoted at 129 to a support block 128. The outer or forward end of each of the members 130 is provided with a container-engaging jaw 131. Jaws 131 are adapted to engage the sides of the tube 33 at diametrically opposed points. Lugs 131a at the extreme outer ends of the jaws 131 are provided for projecting inwardly over the end of the tube. These jaws will be diametrically opposed and will project inwardly towards each other and when actuated will enter the chamber 60, to grip the tube 33 of the container assembly, through the diametrically opposed slots 64. The jaw member support block 128 is fixed to the outer or forward end of a cylindrical tubular support member 132 which is angularly spaced in the direction of advancing rotation of the table 45, as will be apparent from FIGS. 5 and 8. The member 132 is mounted for axial reciprocation and in its retracted position (FIG. 20) the block 128 will be adjacent the frame section 49 which is provided with a large opening 133 to prevent interference with the members 130 and associated parts. These parts include a cylinder and piston unit 134, preferably airoperated, for actuating each jaw member 130. The unit 134 is supplied with air through a line 135 to swing the jaw 130 inwardly and the jaw may be spring-returned, when the pressure is exhausted. Each unit 134 is pivotally connected at 136 to the bellcrank jaw member 130 and at 137 to a collar 138 which is welded in position around the tubular support 132 at a point spaced axially rearwardly from the member 128.

The member 132 is slidably telescopically mounted on a mounting tubular support 140 (FIG. 19) that is fixed to the frame section 51 and projects inwardly therefrom to the left. A collar 141 is welded in position around the rear end of the member 132 and has a guide roller 142 disposed in a guide track 143 supported between the frame sections 49 and 51. At a diametrically opposed point, a pivot connection 144 is provided for connecting the member 132 to an actuating rod 145 which will be referred to later. Reciprocation of the rod 145 will produce reciprocation of the tong support member 132.

In extracting the assembled container from the chamber 60, the support 132 is moved to the left to the position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 20 where the jaw members 130 are swung inwardly towards each other to cause the jaws 131 thereof to move through the slots 

1. Apparatus for assembling a container comprising a tube with an open end, a piston to be fitted slidably into the tube and having a stick-receiving socket opening toward the open end of the tube and a stick for fitting into said socket which comprises: means for supporting the stick with an end exposed; means for supporting the piston with the open end of its socket directed toward the exposed end of the stick; means for moving the piston and supported stick relatively axially to move its socket over the exposed end of the stick; means for supporting the tube with its open end directed toward the stick-mounted piston, and means for moving the stick-mounted piston and the tube relatively axially to move the open end of the tube over the piston.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 for assembling a container in which the piston has a skirt and the stick-socket is concentrically disposed relative thereto and projects axially in the same direction as the stick; and in which: said means for supporting the stick comprises a mandrel-type fixture having a socket with an outer open end for receiving the stick with its end projecting therefrom, said fixture having a peripheral surface on its outer end concentrically surrounding the outer end of the stick socket in the mandrel for receiving the skirt of said piston as it is slipped axially over the mandrel and the stick-socket of the piSton is slipped axially over the projecting end of the stick.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which: the outer end of the stick-receiving socket in the fixture is enlarged to receive the inner end of the stick-socket on the piston without contact, the outer end of the fixture is reduced to provide said peripheral skirt-receiving surface inwardly recessed so that the skirt will slip thereon, and to provide a peripheral shoulder spaced axially inwardly, and said open end of the tube being slipped over the skirt and axially beyond the edge of said skirt until the leading edge of the tube is at said shoulder.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 including: an assembly chamber in which the mandrel is disposed and having an outwardly opening mouth surrounding the outer end of the mandrel; a stick-feeding unit for feeding the stick through the open mouth of the chamber into the mandrel stick socket; a piston-feeding unit for feeding the piston through the open mouth of the chamber to position its skirt on the outer end of the mandrel and its socket over the projecting end of the stick; and a tube-feeding unit for feeding the open end of the tube through the mouth of the chamber over the skirt of the stick-mounted piston.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including: an extracting unit for engaging the assembled container while in said chamber and withdrawing it therefrom, said extracting unit comprising gripping tongs movable into engagement with the assembled container through outwardly opening slots in said chamber.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including: an indexing table on which a series of said assembly chambers and cooperating mandrels are mounted at angularly spaced positions; said units being disposed at angularly spaced intervals around said table and each having guide means directed axially toward the table with which the open mouth of each chamber is successively axially aligned upon indexing of said table; and means for successively actuating said units for successively cooperating with each of said chambers.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which: each of said units includes an actuating rod reciprocable to actuate its respective unit when aligned axially with the successive chambers; and cam means for successively reciprocating said rods.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which: each of said rods is axially yieldable upon encountering predetermined resistance to its axial movement.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which: each of said rods is of a cylinder and piston type to be moved axially relatively upon the development of excess axial pressure; drive means for moving said indexing table and operating said cam means; and control means for said drive means activated by relative movement of the cylinder and piston of each of said rods.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which: said drive means is driven by an electric motor; said control means comprises a pressure switch for said motor; and a pressure connection between said switch and said cylinder and piston of each of said rods.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 including: a jet unit mounted in cooperation with said indexing table ahead of said stick-feeding unit with which said chambers are successively aligned to blow any remaining container parts therefrom.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 including: a photoelectric switch mounted in cooperation with said indexing table ahead of said stick-feeding unit and connected to said electric motor for stopping it if any parts remain in said successive chambers.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which: said extracting unit comprises gripping tongs movable into engagement with the assembled container through outwardly opening slots in said chamber.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including: an overload clutch connected between said electric motor and said indexing table, Said control means comprises a shut-off safety switch connected to said motor and actuated by said switch.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which: said photoelectric switch includes a receiver having a relay and in which said control means comprises a switch actuated by the tube pusher unit and connected in circuit with said motor and said relay of the photoelectric switch to maintain current to the motor while the indexing table is turning and the light beam of the switch is interrupted.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which: the pusher-actuated switch is in parallel with said relay of the photoelectric switch; and said cut-off switch, pressure-actuated switch and said photoelectric receiver relay are all connected in series in the motor control circuit.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 6 including: means for driving said indexing table which includes an overload clutch, and safety control means actuated by said clutch upon overload to interrupt said drive.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 in which: the actuating means of each of said units is provided with safety means which is connected to said table-driving means to interrupt the drive upon overload of any of said actuating means. 